The academy felt different that morning. The sun rose over the east courtyard in the same familiar light, yet everything about the day carried a faint tension—one that hovered quietly in the air. After weeks of rumors, hearings, and quiet confrontations, the student council's announcement was finally scheduled.

Arios was already awake by the time the bell rang through the dorm wing. He stood by the open window, adjusting the cuff of his uniform jacket. The courtyard below was full of movement—students walking in groups, whispering, pointing toward the central notice board that had been locked shut the night before.

Lucy sat on the couch behind him, brushing her hair while watching him through the reflection of the glass. "You're not eating?" she asked.

"I will later," Arios said, glancing outside again. "They're posting it soon."

Liza came out from the kitchen holding a mug. "You mean the council's statement?"

"Yeah."

Lucy looked over her shoulder. "Amelia's name will be cleared officially, right?"

"That's what Damian said," Arios replied. "The council verified the report. It's done. Her record will be restored."

Liza sipped from her mug. "You sound like you don't trust it."

"I trust Damian," Arios said. "I don't trust how the academy handles information. They'll clear Amelia, but they won't mention who helped expose Garron. They'll call it an 'internal resolution.'"

Lucy frowned. "So your name won't be included?"

Arios shook his head. "It's better that way, for now. Public credit attracts the wrong kind of attention."

Liza leaned against the table. "Still feels unfair. You're the one who solved it."

"Fairness doesn't exist here," Arios said simply. "Only results."

Lucy didn't argue. She just tied her ribbon, stood up, and walked toward him. "Then let's at least go see the board together. We'll know what they wrote soon enough."

He nodded, picked up his jacket, and followed them out.

****

By the time they reached the courtyard, half the student body was already gathered there. Some were standing in groups, others sitting on the stairs, all waiting for the new posting. The atmosphere was a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

Thora, the disciplinary head, stood at the center, holding a sealed folder. She unpinned the old notice from the board and replaced it with a fresh sheet, pressing the corners carefully before stepping back.

The students surged forward immediately.

Lucy, Liza, and Arios stopped at the back of the crowd.

Voices started to rise as people read:

Official Notice — Student Council and Disciplinary Committee Resolution

Following the internal investigation concerning allegations against Instructor Amelia Halden, the Council has concluded the proceedings.

Evidence gathered and verified by the committee confirms that the charges filed against Instructor Amelia were based on falsified information and malicious intent.

As of this notice, Instructor Amelia Halden is fully reinstated to her position and cleared of all wrongdoing.

Instructor Garron of the Illusion Division has been expelled for gross misconduct and violation of academy ethics.

Student Regulus Altair is suspended for three months pending behavioral reassessment.

The council will maintain confidentiality on additional details of the investigation.

Signed,

Damian Ravencroft, Student Council President

Thora Lynette, Disciplinary Head

Harley Sapphire, Administrative Officer

The reaction was immediate. Students started talking over one another.

"So she was innocent?"

"I knew something didn't add up."

"Wait, Garron was expelled? Seriously?"

"Regulus too? Wow."

Some looked shocked, some embarrassed for having joined the rumor wave. Others pretended they'd never doubted her at all.

Lucy folded her arms. "Typical. They make it sound like it all magically resolved itself."

Liza crossed her arms too. "No mention of Arios. Not even a word about who uncovered the truth."

Arios read the notice quietly. His expression didn't change. "It's fine," he said. "This is how it's supposed to be. The less people know my role, the smoother things will move."

Lucy sighed. "You're too calm about it."

Arios smiled faintly. "I'm used to it."

Behind them, students kept reading and whispering. A few turned to glance at Amelia, who was standing at the edge of the crowd with her arms crossed. She looked tired but relieved.

When she saw Arios, she gave him a small nod from afar.

He returned it.

****

Amelia's POV

The crowd was loud, but Amelia barely heard them. For the first time in weeks, she could stand there without feeling the weight of accusation pressing against her chest. The paper on the board said her name was clear, and even if it didn't list the full truth, it was enough.

She noticed Arios standing near the back, quiet as always. His two friends were beside him, both looking frustrated. It made her want to laugh a little.

When the noise finally began to fade, she made her way through the students and approached him. "You read it already?"

"Yeah," Arios said. "Congratulations."

Amelia smiled. "You make it sound like I passed an exam."

"In this academy, that's pretty much what justice is," Liza muttered.

Amelia chuckled softly. "You're not wrong."

Lucy stepped forward. "It's not fair they didn't mention Arios' name."

Amelia looked between them, then shook her head. "It's better this way. The less attention he gets, the safer it is for all of us. The council doesn't want the students dividing into factions over it."

Arios tilted his head slightly. "You knew they'd keep it quiet?"

"Damian warned me," she said. "He said naming you publicly would complicate things. The noble factions would start asking questions, and that could lead to backlash. Chase's family still holds influence."

Liza's expression tightened. "So they're protecting him again."

Amelia looked down. "Maybe. But it's also a form of protection for us. At least for now."

Lucy frowned but didn't argue further.

Arios exhaled. "Let's just take the win."

Amelia smiled faintly. "You really don't change, do you?"

"Trying not to," Arios replied.

They stood there for a while, watching students slowly disperse. Some gave Amelia apologetic looks, others avoided her entirely.

Later that Day, the faculty meeting room was quiet except for the soft sound of papers being stacked. Damian sat at the front, reading the signed resolution again while the other council members discussed logistics.

Thora was writing something on her clipboard. "I still think we should've included Arios' name in the credits," she said. "He deserves acknowledgment."

Damian didn't look up. "And then what? Half the academy would start idolizing him, the other half would hate him. Chase's family would start pulling strings to have him expelled. He's better off staying anonymous."

Harley leaned back in her chair. "It still feels like we're lying."

"We're not," Damian said. "We're just being selective with the truth."

Thora frowned. "That's a thin line."

"It's the only line this academy allows us to walk," Damian said quietly.

The room fell silent after that.

---

That afternoon, the training grounds were mostly empty. Most students were either attending makeup classes or taking advantage of the free period after the announcement.

Arios stood in the center ring, blade in hand, running through slow drills. Each swing was deliberate, each motion timed.

He wasn't thinking about Garron anymore. He wasn't even thinking about Chase. He was just… steadying himself.

Lucy and Liza sat on the edge of the field, watching him.

Lucy was the first to speak. "He's been at it for an hour."

Liza rested her chin on her palm. "He's processing."

"Processing what?"

"Everything," Liza said. "He spent weeks carrying this whole mess. Now that it's over, he doesn't know how to sit still."

Lucy nodded. "Yeah. That sounds like him."

Arios finished a final swing, sheathed the blade, and walked toward them. "You two done whispering?"

Liza grinned. "You were supposed to train us, remember?"

He smirked slightly. "You want to spar?"

Lucy blinked. "Now? We just had breakfast."

"Then it's the perfect time," he said, stretching his arm. "Real combat doesn't wait for digestion."

Liza laughed. "You sound like Garron used to."

Arios paused for a moment, then shook his head. "Let's not compare me to him."

"Fair," Liza said quickly.

Lucy picked up her practice staff. "Fine. But if I lose, you're buying lunch."

Arios smiled. "Deal."

They sparred until sunset.

---

By the time they returned, the common room lights were dim. Students were scattered around, some talking about the announcement, others pretending not to care.

The gossip hadn't died completely. It never did.

A girl near the fireplace whispered, "I heard Instructor Garron was actually part of a banned group outside the academy."

Someone replied, "No way. I heard he was framed by the council."

Another added, "Maybe that Amelia lady had connections."

Lucy frowned. "Unbelievable. They can't just accept the truth."

Arios sat down, not looking up. "They'll move on soon. They always do."

Liza pulled up a chair beside him. "Doesn't it bother you?"

"Not anymore," he said. "Rumors die when there's nothing left to feed them."

Lucy crossed her arms. "You sound like Damian."

"Maybe he's right sometimes," Arios said.

They fell into a comfortable silence after that. The noise of the other students became background sound—nothing more than distant chatter.

****

Amelia's POV, inside Instructor Quarters

Amelia sat at her desk, a stack of papers in front of her. The reinstatement letter was among them, signed and sealed. For the first time in weeks, she could look at her name on a document without feeling dread.

She picked up her pen, paused for a moment, then set it down again. The words she wanted to write wouldn't come. Gratitude, anger, exhaustion—all of it mixed together.

Her thoughts drifted to Arios.

He didn't ask for recognition. He didn't even seem to want it. But she knew that everything she had right now—the job, the reputation, the peace—was because of him.

She smiled faintly to herself. "You really don't let anything go halfway, do you?" she murmured.

The Next Morning,

The cafeteria was unusually full. The atmosphere was lighter now, almost celebratory. Students who had avoided Amelia before were now greeting her politely.

Lucy, Liza, and Arios sat together near the corner table.

Lucy looked around. "Everyone's acting like they didn't just drag her name through the mud."

Liza smirked. "Academy hypocrisy at its finest."

Arios stirred his drink. "Let them have their peace. It's easier than expecting accountability."

Lucy looked at him. "You sound tired."

"Maybe," he said. "It's been a long few weeks."

Amelia entered then, carrying a tray. She spotted them and walked over.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked.

"Not at all," Lucy said, sliding over to make room.

Amelia sat down and smiled faintly. "I never thought I'd miss this noise."

Liza laughed. "You must really be an instructor."

Amelia chuckled softly. "Maybe I am."

For a while, they just ate quietly. The background noise filled the silence between bites.

Then Amelia looked at Arios. "You're not disappointed your name wasn't mentioned?"

Arios shook his head. "It's not important."

"It is," she said softly. "Even if they don't know it, I do."

He didn't reply.

Amelia smiled. "You remind me of someone I used to know—too smart for his own peace of mind."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "A compliment?"

Amelia laughed. "Yes. Though he'll never admit it."

Arios finished his drink. "Let's just call it a normal day again."

Liza nodded. "Finally."

Later that evening, Arios stood on the academy rooftop. The air was cool, the sky tinted orange from the setting sun. From up there, he could see the entire campus—the dorms, the courtyard, the training field. Everything seemed peaceful again.

Lucy came up behind him, carrying two drinks. "You disappeared again," she said, handing him one.

"Needed air," he replied.

She leaned on the railing beside him. "Feels weird, doesn't it? Everything going back to normal."

Arios nodded slowly. "Yeah. But it's a temporary kind of normal."

"You think Chase will move next?"

"Eventually," Arios said. "He's too quiet. And people like him don't like being out of control."

Lucy looked down at the students below. "Then what are you going to do?"

Arios watched the horizon for a moment. "Wait," he said. "And watch."

She smiled faintly. "You're scary when you say things like that."

He looked at her. "You still here?"

"Someone has to make sure you don't brood yourself into another crisis."

He smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."

They stood there until the lights of the academy began to flicker on one by one.

***

Damian's POV,

Damian was reviewing reports again. Harley stood by the door, arms folded.

"Everything quiet now?" she asked.

"For now," Damian said. "But peace in this academy never lasts long."

"Still thinking about Arios?"

Damian smiled faintly. "Always. He's the kind of person who doesn't stop moving. The kind that changes the flow of things without realizing it."

Harley tilted her head. "You sound like you're preparing for something."

"Maybe I am," he said. "The balance shifted. Garron's gone, but Chase isn't. And Arios… he's the next problem the council won't be able to control forever."

****

Night settled over the academy. Arios returned to his room, sat by the window, and watched the courtyard below.

Students laughed in groups, walking past the lamps. Everything looked normal again.

He opened the drawer beside him and took out a small metallic charm—the one from the illusion dungeon. He turned it over in his hand.

The mana trace had faded, but he kept it anyway. A reminder of what he'd gone through.

He closed his eyes briefly. For the first time in days, his shoulders relaxed. The fight was over—this one, at least.

But somewhere, beyond the calm and the quiet, he could already sense the next storm forming.

He placed the charm back in the drawer and leaned back.

"Tomorrow," he muttered, "I'll rest."

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